Memphis city councilman charged with domestic assault

Memphis City Councilman Jason Parker is currently out on bond following his arrest for domestic violence assault against his live-in girlfriend that occurred on Sunday, March 16.

Parker, 36, entered a not guilty plea at his video arraignment from the Macomb County Jail via the 42-1 District Court in Romeo on Monday, March 17. A $3,000 bond, 10 percent cash or surety, was set and when the $300 was posted, Parker was released.

The first term councilman told the Voice he feels he was falsely arrested and his own injuries, including a black eye and bite marks, tell the real story.

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“I believe this will be resolved in my favor,” Parker said.

Macomb County Sheriff’s Department (MCSD) Lieutenant John Michalke said the charges stem from an incident at Parker’s Potter Street apartment at 3:40 a.m. on March 16. Macomb County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Memphis Fire Department responded to calls of a domestic incident in progress at the apartment.

Michalke stated police were told the victim, Parker’s live in girlfriend, was sitting on some steps when officers arrived. They noted a bloody cut to her eye and red marks on her neck and she stated that her boyfriend, Jason Parker, was the person who assaulted her.

Officers then went to Parker’s apartment where he denied the assault. At that time he was arrested for domestic violence and his girlfriend was transported to a local hospital.

Memphis Mayor Daniel Weaver was informed of the incident by the Memphis Fire Department, who also responded to the call. He has since spoke with Parker at length about the allegations.

Weaver informed the first term councilman that the city cannot have someone who has abused a woman serving the city in that position. He also told Parker his public office will not be used to help exonerate him.

“I told him this is a tough situation but if he is having personal problems he needs to fix it or step down,” Weaver said. “The second thing I told him was that he must keep us all, council members, in the loop about what’s going on.”

The city charter does include a clause about moral turpitude and should Parker be convicted of the charge, he would be removed from the city council, Weaver added.

“Right now we want him to have his day in court,” Weaver said. “He says he’s innocent, that he didn’t hit the woman and he does have a black eye and bite marks too.”

Parker believes he will be exonerated and the charges will be dropped. He admits alcohol played a factor in the late night argument with his live in girlfriend. Although MCSD Lieutenant Michalke said alcohol was not a factor in the arrest it is not listed as being an element of the crime.

As he tells it, Parker alleges his girlfriend returned to their apartment heavily intoxicated at midnight and while he had a few drinks he was headed for bed at 2 a.m. when the argument started. Parker states he simply tossed a lighter across the room to his girlfriend and it accidently hit her in the eye. He claims she then became enraged and, no matter what he said or did, she kept beating on him. Parker said he even placed her in a cold shower to try to stop the incident from escalating further but she kept fighting him.

A neighbor called 911 and when police and firefighters arrived Parker said his girlfriend claimed he punched her. He was then arrested.

After being housed at the Macomb County Jail, Parker was arraigned via a video feed on Monday morning and then his girlfriend bailed him out.

He has hired an attorney and said he’s confident the charges will be dropped before his next scheduled court date on April 1.

“This very well could be dropped based on my injuries,” Parker said. “And she has moved out of my apartment now and says she doesn’t want to press charges.”

As far as his role as a city councilman, Parker said he regrets doing anything to put that in jeopardy.

“I do want to be on the council and don’t want this to interfere with it,” Parker said. “I want to get past this and move on with my life.”